Pan M, Eiguren-Fernandez A, Hsieh H, Afshar-Mohajer N, Hering SV, Lednicky J, Hugh Fan Z, Wu CY. Efficient collection of viable virus aerosol through laminar-flow, water-based condensational particle growth.
J Appl Microbiol 2016;
120:805-15. [PMID:
26751045 PMCID:
PMC10720391 DOI:
10.1111/jam.13051]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2015] [Revised: 12/22/2015] [Accepted: 12/29/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
AIMS
State-of-the-art bioaerosol samplers have poor collection efficiencies for ultrafine virus aerosols. This work evaluated the performance of a novel growth tube collector (GTC), which utilizes laminar-flow water-based condensation to facilitate particle growth, for the collection of airborne MS2 viruses.
METHODS AND RESULTS
Fine aerosols (<500 nm) containing MS2 coliphage were generated from a Collison nebulizer, conditioned by a dilution dryer and collected by a GTC and a BioSampler. The GTC effectively condensed water vapour onto the virus particles, creating droplets 2-5 μm in diameter, which facilitated collection. Comparison of particle counts upstream and downstream revealed that the GTC collected >93% of the inlet virus particles, whereas the BioSampler's efficiency was about 10%. Viable counts of the GTC-collected viruses were also one order of magnitude higher than those of the BioSampler (P = 0·003).
CONCLUSION
The efficiency of the GTC for the viable collection of MS2 viruses exceeds that of industry standard instrument, the BioSampler, by a factor of 10-100.
SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY
This study reveals that the GTC is an effective collector of viable MS2 aerosols, and concludes the instrument will be an effective tool for studying viable virus aerosols and the inhalation risks posed by airborne viruses.
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